Bango Earns Ninth Win at Churchill in Bet on Sunshine

Churchill Downs horse-for-course Bango  fought to the wire to take the Nov. 13 Bet on Sunshine Stakes. It was his ninth victory in 16 starts under the Twin Spires for trainer Greg Foley.

"I may have to put him up until next spring at Churchill," Foley said. "He'll be back in the spring for sure."

The 5-year-old son of Congrats  traveled toward the back of the nine-horse pack as Top Gunner  and Sibelius  showed the way in :21.60 around the fast main track. Coming around the turn, Bango had moved up to sit behind the frontrunners and found himself in traffic at the top of the lane in :44.84. Under Tyler Gaffalione, Bango surged forward to come beside Sibelius and Top Gunner in :57.13.

Bango continued to gain ground and edged Sibelius by three-quarters of a length after six furlongs in 1:10. After battling for the lead for most of the race, Sibelius ran second, and Top Gunner was 1 1/2 lengths back for third.

A homebred for Tamaroak Stables, Bango ($5.06) improved his record to 11-1-2 from 27 starts and increased his earnings to $947,715.

This year he won the June 4 Aristides Stakes and a Sept. 23 allowance optioning claiming race in Louisville. Last year he took both the Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes and the Aristides. He broke his maiden at the track in November 2019.

Bango was bred in Kentucky out of the Smart Strike  mare Josaka, who has four winners from five foals to race. She also has a yearling full brother to Bango and a 2022 Flatter   colt. She was bred back to Mendelssohn   for 2023.

Coppelia Earns First Stakes Score in Dream Supreme

Coppelia  headed out with a mission Nov. 13, when she blew away the competition in the Dream Supreme Stakes to earn her first victory at the level.

"We kept beating our head against the wall with this filly," trainer Phil Bauer said. "She's always showed so much brilliance in the morning but wouldn't produce. It may be maturity...To perform like that today, we're pretty excited."

The 4-year-old daughter of Not This Time   broke alertly under Martin Garcia and tracked in second behind Palm Cottage  in :21.94, with Joyful Cadence  and Sconsin  third and fourth in the six-horse field.

On the final turn, Coppelia changed gears to take the lead in :45.69 while holding off Palm Cottage and Joyful Cadence. She continued her charge into late stretch in :57.49, and despite a late challenge from Joyful Cadence, the filly crossed the wire first by 2 3/4 lengths. The time was 1:09.90 over the fast main track.

Joyful Cadence held on for second, with Sconsin in third.

Owned by Rigney Racing, Coppelia ($6.90) improved her record to 4-2-0 from 14 starts and increased her earnings to $390,201. Bred in Kentucky by Gabriel Duignan and Crosshaven Bloodstock, she was a $250,000 purchase by J.C.M. from the Paramount Sales consignment to the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Coppelia is out of the Mineshaft   mare Crespano, who has three winners from four foals to race. She also produced 2018 Los Alamitos Derby (G3) winner Once On Whiskey . The dam has a 2-year-old daughter of Mendelssohn named Jennifer My Love and a yearling Nyquist   filly. She was bred to Instagrand   for 2023.